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Thinking Way Outside the Box - Johnny Hockey |
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Thinking Way Outside the Box
The last column dealt heavily with Ducks unsigned Restricted Free Agents (RFAs) Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell. There is another big RFA in the league that needs to be signed, Johnny Gaudreau. Someone who is exactly what the Ducks have lacked for years; a scoring left wing.
I'm not suggesting GM Bob Murray send Johnny Hockey an offer sheet. Instead if there is any hesitation on his part about Lindholm as a longtime franchise cornerstone, maybe there is a deal to be had. Rakell and Lindholm for Gaudreau.
If you have followed my blog for the last two years, you know I don't deal in idle speculation. Additionally, I'm not a fan of intra-division trades. This one, however works for both sides. Here is why:
Again, if Murray doesn't see Lindholm as the future, the Swedish defenseman has garnered enough respect around the league to be highly in demand. It doesn't mean he gets sent out willy-nilly. If he does move, it would be in a deal involving another blue-chip player.
Rakell is a very good player. What is his upside in Anaheim? 60 points, 70 points? He isn't a point per game player. Nor does he project to be a star player. He is an effective second line center, stuck behind Ryan Getzlaf for the next few seasons.
Gaudreau is looking for a contract in excess of the 7 year, $44M (AAV - $6.375) one Calgary gave to Sean Monahan earlier this summer. His target is closer to $8M per season, ironically about the amount it would cost to sign Lindholm and Rakell.
Is this trade worth it for Anaheim? Yes.
Johnny Hockey is a star. Star power matters in a market such as SoCal, where teams fight for headlines. Corey Perry and Getzlaf are stars, but Gaudreau has the “it” factor in terms of entertainment. He is a player that puts butts in seats. That's another important important factor for a team on a budget. His reward as a draw is far in excess above the risk of the contract. Paul Kariya 2.0 and then some. For as good of a defenseman Lindholm is and will be, people don't pay money to watch him play. Additionally, the Ducks organization is insanely deep on the blue line. While none of the prospects project to have the overall game of Lindholm, the group is hugely talented.
Is this trade worth it for Calgary? Probably Yes.
It depends on whether Flames GM Brad Treliving wants to take his team to the cap ceiling with one player, knowing Sam Bennett's entry level contract expires at the end of this season. A defense pairing of Lindholm and Dougie Hamilton could be the next Keith/Seabrooke. Rakell would be a very good top six player on the left side of either Monahan or Bennett.
The bottom line is this. One team is balanced in a sports market that is star driven. The other team has a star on a team that needs balance in a market that values the name on the front of the jersey over the name on the back.
Just thinking outside the box. I'm ready for the pitchforks and torches.
The last column dealt heavily with Ducks unsigned Restricted Free Agents (RFAs) Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell. There is another big RFA in the league that needs to be signed, Johnny Gaudreau. Someone who is exactly what the Ducks have lacked for years; a scoring left wing.
I'm not suggesting GM Bob Murray send Johnny Hockey an offer sheet. Instead if there is any hesitation on his part about Lindholm as a longtime franchise cornerstone, maybe there is a deal to be had. Rakell and Lindholm for Gaudreau.
If you have followed my blog for the last two years, you know I don't deal in idle speculation. Additionally, I'm not a fan of intra-division trades. This one, however works for both sides. Here is why:
Again, if Murray doesn't see Lindholm as the future, the Swedish defenseman has garnered enough respect around the league to be highly in demand. It doesn't mean he gets sent out willy-nilly. If he does move, it would be in a deal involving another blue-chip player.
Rakell is a very good player. What is his upside in Anaheim? 60 points, 70 points? He isn't a point per game player. Nor does he project to be a star player. He is an effective second line center, stuck behind Ryan Getzlaf for the next few seasons.
Gaudreau is looking for a contract in excess of the 7 year, $44M (AAV - $6.375) one Calgary gave to Sean Monahan earlier this summer. His target is closer to $8M per season, ironically about the amount it would cost to sign Lindholm and Rakell.
Is this trade worth it for Anaheim? Yes.
Johnny Hockey is a star. Star power matters in a market such as SoCal, where teams fight for headlines. Corey Perry and Getzlaf are stars, but Gaudreau has the “it” factor in terms of entertainment. He is a player that puts butts in seats. That's another important important factor for a team on a budget. His reward as a draw is far in excess above the risk of the contract. Paul Kariya 2.0 and then some. For as good of a defenseman Lindholm is and will be, people don't pay money to watch him play. Additionally, the Ducks organization is insanely deep on the blue line. While none of the prospects project to have the overall game of Lindholm, the group is hugely talented.
Is this trade worth it for Calgary? Probably Yes.
It depends on whether Flames GM Brad Treliving wants to take his team to the cap ceiling with one player, knowing Sam Bennett's entry level contract expires at the end of this season. A defense pairing of Lindholm and Dougie Hamilton could be the next Keith/Seabrooke. Rakell would be a very good top six player on the left side of either Monahan or Bennett.
The bottom line is this. One team is balanced in a sports market that is star driven. The other team has a star on a team that needs balance in a market that values the name on the front of the jersey over the name on the back.
Just thinking outside the box. I'm ready for the pitchforks and torches.
Anaheim Ducks Blogger • 
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